London Borough of Tower Hamlets Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places Representations Received in Response to Consultat
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APPENDIX B LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS REVIEW OF POLLING DISTRICTS AND POLLING PLACES REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION DOCUMENT ISSUED ON 19 TH AUGUST 2013 AND RETURNING OFFICER’S RESPONSE Representations received New Ward Returning Officer’s response Polling Districts Polling Places BETHNAL LBTH Conservative Group made the following Councillors Amy Whitelock, Sirajul Islam, Lesley BG1 – suggestion to use St James GREEN comments:- Pavitt and Carlo Gibbs made the following the Lesser Church Hall – accepted comments:– “Although we have some concern over one polling BG2 – suggestion to use Bonner district crossing Roman Road, we have no “For BG1, we believe St James the Lesser Church Primary School – accepted objection to the proposed districts.” would be the better option as it is more accessible and visible, more central within the polling district and more BG3 – suggestion to use Request to Tower Hamlets Labour Party and LBTH Labour of a focal point (whereas the alternative proposed use the Tramshed – accepted Group made the following comments:- school is tucked away and less well known within the local area). BG5 – suggestion re: description of “We agree with the proposed polling districts for the proposed polling place - this ward.” For BG2, we are concerned about the proposal of accepted using Globe Primary as it is not on a main road which means it is not be an obvious landmark for some residents plus the roads surrounding the school are very narrow. We already have residents complaining during the school run about the volume of traffic along the roads, cars getting damaged etc, so this could likely be exacerbated on polling day as there is very little room for those who wish to drive to vote. Bonner School was the previous polling station for MGT1 (which constitutes much of BG2). We feel strongly that this school should be retained as a polling station as it is very well known among the community and also much more accessible being on a main road. For BG3, we feel strongly we need to keep the Representations received New Ward Returning Officer’s response Polling Districts Polling Places BETHNAL Tramshed. It is very well known and iconic and has GREEN been the polling station for years. Rachel Keeling (cont) nursery is smaller and tucked away – many residents will not know where it is – plus its only marginally more central within the polling district. So we urge that the Tramshed is retained as a polling district. For BG4, we agree that John Scurr school should remain the polling station. For BG5, we agree that the Pupil Inclusion Unit should remain the polling station, but recommend it is renamed as Harpley School, as that is how it is known in the community and otherwise it could cause confusion.” Tower Hamlets Labour Party and LBTH Labour Group submitted substantially the same representations as the above Councillors in respect of BG1 – BG4, but in relation to BG1, sought additionally to be assured that the proposed polling place is the church hall rather than the church itself. Councillor Shafiqul Haque made the following comments:- “The five proposed polling stations are in well-situated and good choices. The officers have done well to choose locations that are known to local residents in each of the polling districts, and are easy to get to. I strongly support the officers’ recommendations, and trust that you will take this to account in coming to a final decision. “ Representations received New Ward Returning Officer’s response Polling Districts Polling Places BLACKWALL LBTH Conservative Group made the following LBTH Conservative Group made the following BC1 – I have reviewed this area and AND CUBITT comments:- comments:- believe the use of Majestic Wine Car TOWN Park, Preston’s Road, would be a “BC3 & BC4 – The draft recommendations place “BC1 – We feel it would be more convenient for voters more suitable location for a one block of the Alexia Square/Baltimore on the Virginia Quay estate, which forms the majority portakabin. Wharf/Oaklands Quay development in BC4 and of the district, for the portakabin proposed as the the remainder in BC3. Cubitt Town School is a polling place to be moved nearer to the estate, for BC2 – Officers have visited both more convenient polling place for the entire example on public land under or near East India DLR lobbies and they are not large development than Jack Dash House and we station. enough to use as a polling place. I suggest the entire development be moved to have reviewed the junction for the BC4.” BC2 – The proposed polling place (Bushy Tails suggested portakabin but there are Nursery) is closed. There is a lack of community major road works taking place. I Tower Hamlets Labour Party and LBTH Labour facilities in this district. Perhaps the most suitable therefore believe a portakabin on the Group made the following comments:- place would be in the lobby of New Providence Wharf wide pavement area near the secure (this would however require an amendment to the self storage office on Preston’s Road “We agree with the proposed polling districts for boundary between BC1 and BC2) or perhaps the would be a more suitable location. this ward.” lobby of the Ibis Hotel, Blackwall way. If neither of these are acceptable, the only alternative is another BC3/BC4 – suggestion to include the portakabin. The most suitable location for such would whole development in BC4 - be at the junction of Preston’s Road and Raleana accepted and polling district Road.” boundary redrawn accordingly. Tower Hamlets Labour Party and LBTH Labour Group made the following comments:- “We agree with the proposed polling places for this ward.” Representations received New Ward Returning Officer’s response Polling Districts Polling Places BOW EAST During preliminary consultation, Councillor Marc Tower Hamlets Labour Party and LBTH Labour Representations re: Fish Island were Francis made representations regarding the Group made the following comments:- accepted and a new polling district distance residents living in Fish Island need to was proposed for the residents of travel to reach their current polling place and “We agree with the proposed polling places for BE1, Fish Island as part of the referring to the fact that the area has been BE2, BE3 and BE5. We strongly object to the use of consultation proposals. identified for future growth over the next few Bromley by Bow Centre (if not included by accident) years. as a polling place for Bow East (BE4). Not only is it Suggestion to move Cadogan located some distance outside of the ward, it would Terrace and St Mark’s Gate to BE1 LBTH Conservative Group made the following also cause significant confusion to residents in both – accepted. comments:- BN3 and BE4. We would therefore strongly advocate the retention of the Tredegar Centre as the polling Eastside Youth Centre proposed as “We have no objection to the proposed polling place for BE4.” polling place for BE3 districts and welcome a new district for Fish Island.” NB: Inclusion of the Bromley-by- Bow Centre under BE4 was a Tower Hamlets Labour Party and LBTH Labour typographical error in the Group made the following comments:- consultation document. The Tredegar Centre is proposed as the “We strongly welcome the creation of a new polling place for this district. polling district serving Fish Island. We believe that Cadogan Terrace and St Mark’s Gate should be retained within BE1 rather than the residents being required to walk through an unfamiliar industrial area to access the new Fish Island polling Place.” Representations received New Ward Returning Officer’s response Polling Districts Polling Places BOW WEST LBTH Conservative Group made the following Tower Hamlets Labour Party and LBTH Labour Proposal to re-divide BW3 into two comments:- Group made the following comments:- districts – accepted. However, I want to move away from using “We do not welcome the merger of the existing “We agree with the proposed polling places in this secondary schools and therefore BW3 and BW4 districts and the unnecessary ward and suggest that should our proposal regarding propose the polling place for the new confusion this will cause for residents, and the division of the proposed BW3 district be adopted, polling district BW3 to be at St Mary suggest the proposed district be split back into the that the polling place for both polling districts be at and Holy Trinity, Bow Road. BW4 to existing districts, along Coborn Road, with the Malmesbury Primary School.” remain at Malmesbury Primary additional polling station at the Central Foundation School, Coborn Road. Girls’ School.” Tower Hamlets Labour Party and LBTH Labour Group made the following comments:- “We believe that there should continue to be four polling districts in this ward with the proposed BW3 divided into two, with the boundary between the two wards running along Coborn Road.” BROMLEY Councillors Helal Uddin and Khales Uddin Councillors Helal Uddin and Khales Uddin Ahmed Suggestion to move Campbell NORTH Ahmed made the following comments:- made the following comments:- Road, Eagling Close, Mornington Grove, Tomlins Grove and Arnold “We support the principle of three polling districts “[BN3]: We support the retention of Old Palace Road area from BN1 to BN2 - Arnold and stations for Bromley North ward, however we Primary School as the polling place for this area. Road and Mornington Grove not have concerns over the boundaries of these moved as the electorate figures districts and one of the proposed polling places. Additionally we do not support the proposal of using St would become imbalanced. All other Agnes RC School as the polling place for BN2. The changes accepted. The BN3 district is a sensible proposal which we school is not easily accessed and neither is it well support, with the exception of the exclusion of known within the local area, due to its location which is Suggestion to move the area along Talwin Street area from this polling district.